Tapping WCE’s global network of partner organizations with their more than 2,650 computer labs, the collaboration will offer more prospective and current UoPeople students increased access to computers with Internet connections for their studies. This will enable qualified individuals without computers to reap the educational benefits of UoPeople. Additionally, WCE will help promote UoPeople through its marketing channels, enabling the institution to target prospective students in new regions.

“Our goal is simple: provide higher education to anyone with the drive to learn by creating access to computers with Internet connections,” said Shai Reshef, Founder and President, UoPeople. “While demand for UoPeople has been great, we have discovered that many qualified applicants are unable to join us because they don’t have access to a computer. By partnering with the World Computer Exchange, we will continue to grow our student body, reaching both individuals who have the technological resources to study with us and those who lack them.”

Focused on connecting more youth to the skills, understanding and opportunities of the Internet, WCE works closely with partners in over 71 developing nations, deploying refurbished computer, providing on-line capacity building, and dispatching teams of tech and educational training professionals.

With a closely aligned mission, UoPeople is committed to maximizing the accessibility to a high-quality, university level education through tuition-free online learning. Leveraging the free exchange of information via the Internet and social networking, UoPeople applies these concepts to academia, creating a global platform for higher education. Since its launch in 2009, UoPeople has enrolled over 500 students from almost 100 countries around the world—a testament to the need for such a venture. The University aims to enroll 15,000 students in its first five years of operation.

“We strive to make the best use of the Internet and what better use is there than giving people access to education,” said Timothy Anderson, President, WCE. “University of the People is a model for change, truly utilizing the power of the Internet for all of our core values. We are pleased to be partnering with them to provide the necessary digital tools for studying which are in such short supply in many developing nations.”

About University of the People:
Founded by educational entrepreneur Shai Reshef in January 2009, University of the People (UoPeople; http://www.UoPeople.org) is the world’s first tuition-free, online academic institution. Based on the principles of e-learning and peer-to-peer teaching, coupled with open-source technology and courseware, UoPeople is designed to provide universal access to college studies, despite geographic and economic constraints. Enrollment is currently open for Term 1 of the 2010-2011 academic calendar.

About World Computer Exchange:
World Computer Exchange (http://www.WorldComputerExchange.org) is a global education & environment nonprofit that helps connect youth in developing countries to the skills, opportunities & understanding of the Internet while keeping working computers out of landfills. WCE provides its network of partner organizations with: teacher training, educational content, online capacity building and sends volunteer tech teams to help. WCE is piloting a program of university exchanges of faculty, students, curriculum, and computer, energy and water technologies.